Save our Wellibus

We are Shire Community Services Ltd, a registered charity in operation since 1973 and providing a range of transport services to the local community, mainly the elderly and disabled. We receive funding through local Councils and NHS, but this is not enough to pay for the burgeoning costs of running the various services, particularly the “Wellibus”. We now greatly need additional funding to avoid shutting down completely.

The Wellibus is a familiar sight in and around Wellingborough, having operated in this area since 1973. It offers a fully accessible (through fitted wheelchair lifts) door-to-door minibus service, enabling people in Wellingborough and surrounding villages to get to the town centre, major supermarkets and any other group, club, or social appointment they may have. Wellibus also has a popular monthly excursion programme, providing trips to destinations such as Rushden Lakes, garden centres, farm shops, afternoon tea, Sunday lunches and more. Membership includes door-to-door shopping transport, access to the monthly excursion programme, local private group bookings at no further cost and more! It costs just £30 per year and transport on the bus is completely free of charge if you travel after 9.30 and you hold a concessionary bus pass! As we are demand led, every day is different and dependent on the number of passengers booked to go on the Wellibus. Anyone of any age can also use the service by paying a fare.

In addition to the Wellibus, we also run our Medical Car Service, which helps the elderly, disabled & people in need of transport to get to their medical appointments. Our volunteer drivers collect members from their homes and provide a return journey. A subscription of £30 per year is required, and fares for the transport are paid in cash direct to the volunteer at 45 pence per mile. We take our clients all over the country, from the local hospitals and doctors’ appointments to specialist treatment in major city hospitals.

We need volunteer car drivers NOW! We are always looking for new volunteers to work with us to provide our medical car service. Volunteers get reimbursed at 45p per mile by our members once they have dropped them back home. If you have an hour a week spare or a couple of days a week, then any time you can commit to us would be great. We also have a large selection of mobility scooters and wheelchairs at our handy town centre office that we hire out to the public for a nominal fee. Anyone with a mobility problem can hire one to access the shops and other town services or for long-term use at home.

We would sincerely appreciate your support enabling us to continue to provide much-needed transport to the elderly and disabled in our community.

With kind regards

Elaine Turvey

Treasurer of Shire Community Services Ltd